The OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly is an Inter-Parliamentary body comprising elected Members of Parliament of ACP and EU countries. It evolved from an age long relationship between Europe and African, Caribbean and Pacific group of States dating back to the Treaty of Rome which established the European Economic Community (ECC), signed by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands and West Germany on 25th March, 1957. By this treaty, the ECC Member-States were committed to contributing to the prosperity of ACP States through trade and development aid, a highly innovative model of international cooperation and a pilot scheme for other forms of cooperation.